Wearable thermoelectric generator for harvesting human body heat energy

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 105002 - 7
• Main Authors: Kim, Min-Ki, Kim, Myoung-Soo, Lee, Seok, Kim, Chulki, Kim, Yong-Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.10.2014; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Devices; dispenser-printing; Exact sciences and technology; Fabrics; General equipment and techniques; Human body; human body heat; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Physics; Thermocouples; thermoelectric generator (TEG); Thermoelectric generators; Transducers; Walking; Wearable; wearable energy harvesting; Tellurides; Heat sources; Manufacturing processes; Prototype; Output power; Lithography; Thermoelectric generators; Energy recovery; Bodies; Man; Flexibility

This paper presents the realization of a wearable thermoelectric generator (TEG) in fabric for use in clothing. A TEG was fabricated by dispenser printing of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and Bi2Se0.3Te2.7 in a polymer-based fabric. The prototype consisted of 12 thermocouples connected by conductive thread over an...